Typing and correcting cartridge for single-element typewriters

ABSTRACT

A self-correcting cartridge for single-element typewriters having a movable carrier for the printing element, which cartridge contains a plural-field correction and marking ribbon, and has mounted thereon a control handle which extends upward from the body of said cartridge so as to clear the typewriter casing, cover or lid. The handle has a lower portion extending beneath the cartridge body so as to cooperate with the ribbonvibrator control linkage of the typewriter to select a correction field of the ribbon. The latter control linkage normally includes a manually operable plural-field-or-stencil selector, and the new cartridge is provided with means extending from its under side for automatically holding said selector in position to select one of the writing fields of the cartridge ribbon.

United States Patent 1191 Wolowitz William H. Wolowitz, 6905 Persimmon Tree Road, Bethesda, Md. 20034 [22] Filed: Apr. 3, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 457,532

[76] Inventor:

[ Dec. 23, 1975 Primary ExaminerClifford D. Crowder Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Hall & Myers [5 7] ABSTRACT A self-correcting cartridge for single-element typewriters having a movable carrier for the printing element, which cartridge contains a plural-field correction and marking ribbon, and has mounted thereon a control handle which extends upward from the body of said 2% E 15; 197/151; 197/l57; 197/181 cartridge so as to clear the typewriter casing, cover or B41J 35/14 B41J 33/54 lid. The handle has a lower portion extending beneath 1 o arch 3 7/ the cartridge body so as to cooperate with the ribbon- 1 156 vibrator control linkage of the typewriter to select a 56 f correction field of the ribbon. The latter control link- 1 Re erences Clted age normally includes a manually operable plural- UNITED STATES PATENTS field-or-stencil selector, and the new cartridge is pro- 3,503,483 3/1970 Santo 197/151 vided i h m ns extending from its under side for au- 3,595,362 7/1971 Wolowitz 197/157 tomatically holding said selector in position to select ,7 3 Norman et 197/181 one of the writing fields of the cartridge ribbon. 3,834,512 9/1974 Haugen 197/181 6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures l I I4 I20 I2 s/ 1-111 01 2 I l8 I l w :l p\( 2 I A Tl I l I I l l ilul l 0 ll l i l 1 1 l6 I9 V I 29 U.S. Patent Dec. 23, 1975 3,927,746

TYPING AND CORRECTING CARTRIDGE FOR SINGLE-ELEMENT TYPEWRITERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION to employ an adjusting arm below the cartridge, but

carried by the typewriter (as distinguished from the cartridge), to vary the throw of the ribbon vibrator and thereby enable the typist to use different parts of the ribbon at different times and thus prolong the life of the ribbon.

The prior art also includes a similar arrangement in which the cartridge includes a two-color ribbon, the upper half being a writing ribbon and the lower half being of correcting material. Typing normally proceeds using the writing half of the ribbon. If, however, the typist strikes the wrong key and prints the wrong letter, it may be erased by first backspacing, then lifting the top cover of the typewriter, then adjusting the ribbon vibrator to use the lower portion of the ribbon, and then depressing the key that was previously depressed by mistake. Upon returning the adjustment of the rib bon vibrator to normal, so that the upper portion of the ribbon will be used, and again backspacing, normal typing may proceed.

The aforesaid prior art is cumbersome, especially in view of the inaccessible location of the lever for adjusting the throw of the ribbon vibrator.

The object of this invention is to provide a cartridge of the general type described above which has a convenient arrangement for controlling the throw of the ribbon vibrator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lowcost cartridge for typewriters which permits errors to be easily corrected.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cartridge arrangement for typewriter ribbons that permits errors to be quickly and easily corrected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention includes a ribbon cartridge with an arm in a convenient location on the upper side of the cartridge. This arm, when in normal typing position, causes the ribbon vibrator to use the upper portion of the ribbon. When said arm ismoved to a second position, it moves the apparatus for adjusting the throw of the ribbon vibrator to a second position where the lower (correcting) portion of the ribbon is used. In this position, the conventional control arm (mounted on the typewriter under the cartridge) for controlling the throw of the ribbon vibrator is disengaged and rendered inoperative. While the invention is described in connection with a two color ribbon, one half of which is black and the other half of which is white, it is understood that any two color ribbon (for example, red and black) or indeed a single color ribbon may be used without departing from the broader claims to the invention.

In an improved version of the invention, a magnet is carried on the lower side of my new ribbon cartridge and holds said conventional control arm, when it is disengaged as aforesaid, so that it returns to its normal position when the typist moves my new control arm (located above the cartridge) to its normal position.

. I l I BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. I is a prespective view of the new cartridge together with certain parts of a conventional typewriter.

FIG. 2 is a top view of certain detailed parts, of the apparatus of FIG. 1, in one position.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the same parts, that are shown in FIG. 2, in another position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION One typewriter to which the new cartridge 10 is applicable is the machine sold commercially by IBM Corp. under the trademark Selectric, which employs a golf-ball type printing element 18 which moves across the machine parallel to the usual roller (not shown) as the writing keys are successively depressed. That typewriter has a conventional ribbon vibrator (not shown) the throw of which is controlled by the position of rod 19. When it is desired to type without the ribbon, the control arm 27, which is pivoted at 28 (FIG. 2), is moved counterclockwise until pin 30 falls into indent 25. This allows rod 19 to move forward (direction A). The rod 19, in such position, leaves the ribbon vibrator idle so that the ribbon is not moved into printing position when writing keys are depressed. If it is desired to use the top one-third of the ribbon, the arm 27 is moved to the position shown in FIG. 2 (with pin 30 resting in indent 24). This controls the ribbon vibrator to raise the ribbon, when a writing key is depressed, an amount so that the top one-third of the ribbon is used. When arm 27 is moved clockwise (magnet 35 is not being present) until pin 30 falls into indent 23, the arm 19 is pulled backward to a position where it controls the ribbon vibrator so that the latter moves the ribbon upward enough to permit the middle part of the ribbon to be used. Similarly, if the arm 27 is moved until pin 30 falls into indent 22, the ribbon vibrator is adjusted so it causes the lower one-third of the ribbon to be used.

The aforesaid conventional typewriter also has a ribbon cartridge similar to cartridge 10 having two ribbon spools respectively connected to shafts 11 and 12 one of which is driven to advance the ribbon each time a key is depressed. A conventional ribbon passes from one spool to the other through said conventional ribbon vibrator. The cartridge is, of course, adapted to be easily removed from the typewriter. This is'done by simply pulling it upward. The ribbon spools 11 and 12 in the cartridge have vertical holes to receive two vertical shafts 11a and 12a which drive the spools. Vertical shafts 11a and 12a are a part of the typewriter and are permanently carried by the typewriter frame.

The cartridge 10, of the present invention, is the same as has been described except as follows. A two color ribbon l3, l4, 15 is employed. Its upper band 16 may be a conventional nylon black ribbon, and the lower band 17 may be of correcting material attached to ribbon 16. My new cartridge 10 has a control arm 31 pivoted at 33 and rotatable to the dotted line position where it is restrained by stop 32. When arm 31 is rotated to the dotted line position, its lower end 34 presses arm 19 backward thereby rotating curved arm 21 (which is pivoted to rod 19 at 20) counterclockwise about its pivot 26 to the position shown in FIG. 3. In this position of rod 19, the ribbon vibrator is adjusted to move the ribbon l3, l4, l5 upward, each time a key is depressed, until the lower (correcting) portion 17 of the ribbon 13, 14, 15 moves into printing position. When the rod 19 is moved to this position (see FIG. 3) the pin 30 is not longer in indent 24, and the arm 27, which is pivoted at 28, is free. Since the lower tip 29 of arm '27 is made of soft iron, it is attracted by magnet 35 which is mounted on the underside of cartridge 10. If now the arm 31 is rotated, by the typist, from the dotted line position (FIG. 1), the lower portion 34 of that arm moves away from rod 19 allowing theforward end 27a of rod 19 to be pulled forward by spring 28a. The force of this spring 28a will pull curved arm 21 forward until its indent 24 is fully seated about pin 30 despite the pulling force of magnet 35 on soft iron member 29. In other words, the spring 28a is strong enough to move the apparatus back to the position of FIG. 2 despite the pulling force of magnet 35. The arm or lever 31, 34 is preferably arranged as shown when the ribbon has a writing half and a correcting half. When, however, any other twocolor ribbon is used, such as a red and black one, so that there may be extensive writing on both halves of the ribbon, it is desirable to employ suitable means, such as detents, or a toggle, to firmly hold arm 31 in the position in which it is placed.

The operation of the invention is as follows. During normal typing the arm 31 is in the full-line position of FIG. 1, and the apparatus for controlling the throw of the ribbon vibrator is in the position shown in'FIG. 2. If the typist bymistake presses the wrong key and thus prints the wrong letter, the backspace key (not shown) is then depressed and arm 31 is moved manually to the dotted-line position of FIG. 1. Therefore, the lower portion 34 of arm31 moves rod 19 to the position of FIG. 3 so that upon pressing a writing key, the lower (correcting) portion '17 of the ribbon 13, l4, 15 is used. If the writing key just referred to is selected to be the one for printing the letter which was typed by mistake, the erroneous letter will be covered with white material. Upon again backspacing and moving arm 31 back to normal writing position, the ribbon vibrator control apparatus will return to the 'position of FIG. 2 and typing may proceed using the upper (black) portion 16 of the ribbon.

The magnet 35 is not essential to the broader aspects of the invention, but it is an improvement feature of the invention. In the absence of magnet 35, the apparatus would still work essentially as described. However, in that event, when arm 31 is moved to the dotted-line position, thus moving arm 21 away from pin 30, the arm 27 may freely rotate. Normally, upon the return of arm 31 to normal position, the indent 24 would return to a position of engagement with pin 30 as shown in FIG. 2. This is not a certainity, however, since arm 27 may freely rotate in absence of magnet 35. With the magnet 35, the arm 27 is held in a position where it will, with certainity, allow indent 24 to engage pin 30 when arm 31 is moved from its dotted-line position to its normal position. The arm 27 has a soft iron flange 29 which is attracted by magnet 35.

I claim to have-invented:

1. A ribbon cartridge for use with a typewriter that employs a ribbon vibrator throw control that has a plurality of control positions, comprising a casing adapted to be placed in operative relation to a typewriter,

said casing containing a two-color ribbon, one color being located above the other, said ribbon extending out of the casing and then extending back into the casing, and

adjusting means mounted on the casing for engaging said throw control and exercising control over it to enable the selection of either of two of said control positions.

2. A ribbon cartridge as defined in claim 1 in which said adjusting means comprises a manually engageable element located above the upper side of the casing so as to be in a convenient position for operation when the casing is in use, whereby to permit rapid adjustment of said throw control.

3. A ribbon cartridge as defined in claim 1 having a magnet adjacent the underside of said cartridge and carried by the cartridge for attracting a portion of said throw control and insuring greater certainty that the throw control assumes one of said two positions when the adjusting means is moved to select that position.

4. In a typewriter,

a removable ribbon cartridge in operative relation to the typwriter, having a ribbon for the typewriter,

a ribbon vibrator controller located on the typewriter beneath said cartridge and comprising a movable element adapted to be connected to the ribbon vibrator for control of the throw thereof and movable to different positions to effect said control, and a control arm normally in engagement with said movable element to hold the latter in one position,

and manually adjustable means carried by the cartridge and movable to a position where it engages said movable element to move it to another position, said manually adjustable means including a manually operable portion extending adjacent the upper side of the cartridge permitting convenient access thereto.

5. In a typewriter as defined in claim 4, a magnet carried by the cartridge and adjacent the lower side thereof for holding said control arm when said manually adjustable means is retracted from said position where it engages said movable element.

6. A typewriter as defined in claim 4 in which said movable element when moved to said another position disengages its operating contact with said control arm, said control arm having a portion adapted to be attracted by amagnet, and a magnet carried by the cartridge for attracting said portion to stabilize the position of said control arm when said adjusting means is moved to drive said movable element to said another position and also permitting the movable element and control arm to resume their normal relative positions when the adjusting means is moved to disengage itself from the movable element. 

1. A ribbon cartridge for use with a typewriter that employs a ribbon vibrator throw control that has a plurality of control positions, comprising a casing adapted to be placed in operative relation to a typewriter, said casing containing a two-color ribbon, one color being located above the other, said ribbon extending out of the casing and then extending back into the casing, and adjusting means mounted on the casing for engaging said throw control and exercising control over it to enable the selection of either of two of said control positions.
 2. A ribbon cartridge as defined in claim 1 in which said adjusting means comprises a manually engageable element located above the upper side of the casing so as to be in a convenient position for operation when the casing is in use, whereby to permit rapid adjustment of said throw control.
 3. A ribbon cartridge as defined in claim 1 having a magnet adjacent the underside of said cartridge and carried by the cartridge for attracting a portion of said throw control and insuring greater certainty that the throw control assumes one of said two positions when the adjusting means is moved to select that position.
 4. In a typewriter, a removable ribbon cartridge in operative relation to the typwriter, having a ribbon for the typewriter, a ribbon vibrator controller located on the typewriter beneath said cartridge and comprising a movable element adapted to be connected to the ribbon vibrator for control of the throw thereof and movable to different positions to effect said control, and a control arm normally in engagement with said movable element to hold the latter in one position, and manually adjustable means carried by the cartridge and movable to a position where it engages said movable element to move it to another position, said manually adjustable means including a manually operable portion extending adjacent the upper side of the cartridge permitting convenient access thereto.
 5. In a typewriter as defined in claim 4, a magnet carried by the cartridge and adjacent the lower side thereof for holding said control arm when said manually adjustable means is retracted from said position where it engages said movable element.
 6. A typewriter as defined in claim 4 in which said movable element when moved to said another position disengages its operating contact with said control arm, said control arm having a portion adapted to be attracted by a magnet, and a magnet carried by the cartridge for attracting said portion to stabilize the position of said control arm when said adjusting means is moved to drive said movable element to said another position and also permitting the movable element and control arm to resume their normal relative positions when the adjusting means is moved to disengage itself from the movable element. 